Adjustable holder for utility bill stubs and the like



E. J. VAN] Nov. 9, 1965 ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR UTILITY BILL STUBS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1964 Fig. 3

Eugene J Van/ IVVLNTOR.

M a Arinme s Fig. 5

Nov. 9, 1965 E. J. VANl 3, 83

ADJUSTABLE HOLDER FOR UTILITY BILL STUBS AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 6

Eugene J Vani IN VENTO R. BY Q Q06.

United States Patent 3,216,583 ADJUSTABLE HGLDER FOR UTILITY BILL STUBS AND THE LIKE Eugene J. Vani, 724 Water St., Benwood, W. Va. Filed Mar. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 354,955 Claims. (Cl. 21151) This invention relates to small item holders such as are functionally designed and structurally adapted for compact and convenient storage of readily accessible data cards, tickets, and similar individual articles and has to do, more particularly, with holders for receipted bill stubs for home, oflice and industrial use.

More specifically, the herein disclosed holder, or holders embody practical facilities and an oriented arrangement thereof whereby the user can methodically arrange and maintain paid utility stubs or the like in a systematic manner. To this end each holder is such in construction that the stubs (or equivalent items) are easily viewable and, since there are no objectionable obstructions to cope with, are quickly insertable and removable and available for orderly and timesaving handling.

Briefly, each holder comprises a hollow box or an equivalent receiver wherein the hollow portion constitutes a receptacle. The latter is open at its top and front and simplifies the procedure of inserting, stacking and selective withdrawal for the job at hand. A spring-loaded lever is pivotally bracketed on the lower entrance or front side and provides a clamping and retaining finger. This finger projects upwardly into the receptacle portion, has a cam-like upper or terminal end and is spring-biased to assume and maintain its functioning position. An accessible fingergrip at the lower end provides an easy-touse finger-releasing trip or trigger.

In one embodiment of the concept a single box or receiver is used. In another embodiment a row or battery of individual boxes are mounted atop an elongated portable base. Then, too, a third embodiment offers a box or receiver which is adjustably mounted on a basesupported stand characterized by an inverted U-shaped yoke whose depending legs or arms are hingedly and adjustably mounted on fixed brackets whereby to permit the box to turn axially and tilt, if desired, toward and from the user.

The back or rearward wall has a human finger accommodating notch which promotes effective and reliable access to the receptable portion. The mechanical retainer finger comprises a simple strap metal (or equivalent) lever whose upper end is bowed and provided with a re-entrant tip portion which facilitates orderly usage and minimizes the likelihood of tearing or damaging the items clampingly held thereby. It follows that the invention effectually serves the overall purposes for which it is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an adjustable holder for utility bill stubs, receipts, cards, tickets and the like constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the same readied for use;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section and elevation and with parts broken away and looking at FIGURE 1 in a direction from left to right;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the irregular vertical section line 44 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Patented Nov. 9, 1965 "ice FIGURE 5 is a detail view taken on the plane of the section line 55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view showing a modified form of the invention wherein a plurality of holders are mounted in rack-life form on a common supporting base;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 6 looking, for example, in a direction from left to right;

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on the irregular section line 88 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the lever or mechanical holding finger and how it is constructed and adapted to be operatively mounted.

By way of introduction to the description of the details it is to be pointed out that each holder is the same in construction whether used singly (FIG. 1) or collectively (FIG. 6). Accordingly, a specific description of a single holder will suffice for purposes of the overall disclosure. To this end the holder comprises a vertically elongated hollow box or box-like receiver. With reference first to FIG. 1 the receiver or box is denoted, generally speaking, by the numeral 12. It is fashioned from suitable sheet material (metal, commercial plastics or the like). It is generally rectangular in form and comprises a bottom wall 14 (FIG. 9) the forward edge of which is provided with an upstanding flange 16 constituting a relatively short front wall. A median portion of its flange is provided with an upstanding extension 18 having outwardly directed ears 20 suitably apertured as at 22 (FIG. 9). The back wall is denoted at 24 and, as best shown in FIGURE 4, has a finger clearance notch or an equivalent opening 26 provided in its upper edge. The vertical spaced parallel walls constitute side walls and are denoted at 28. These walls conjointly functioning provide a box or receiver which is unobstructedly open at the top and whose main front is also open whereby to permit freedom of access to the receptacle portion, that is, the portion in which the stubs, cards, or other items or articles 30 are orderly arranged and pressed individually (or in stacked form) against the back wall 24.

The simple yieldable relatively narrow strap-type lever is denoted at 32 (FIG. 9) and is provided at its lower end with a suitably curved outwardly directed portion 34 which constitutes a fingergrip. This fingergrip may also be designated as either a trip or a trigger and when in the position shown in FIG. 1, it is conveniently acceptable for manual operation and control. Above the the fingergrip the longitudinal edge portions are provided with lateral spaced parallel lugs or ears 36 which are also apertured at 38 and these lugs are fitted between the ears 20 with the holes 22 and 38 in alignment to accommodate the insertable and removable headed hinge pin 40. It will be noted that the hinge pin is encircled by a coil spring 42 having one terminal end 44 exerting pressure against the fingergrip (FIG. 5) and the other end portion 46 exerting pressure against the exterior of the short front wall 16. The lever is thus spring-biased into position and is accordingly referred to as springloaded. The upper median portion 48 of this lever or finger is progressively projected into the receptacle portion of the box or receiver as clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8. The free upper end portion is longitudinally bowed or curved inwardly and downwardly as at 50 and has a re-entrant bend or bent portions 52. These features 50 and 52 provide yieldable clamping means for the items 30 and also provide the desired spiral-like terminal which not only facilitates the step of inserting the items but also withdrawing the same without likelihood of tearing or damaging it.

'principles of the invention.

In-the construction and arrangement shown in FIG- URES 1 to 4, inclusive, a holding container or box 12 is provided. In keeping with this embodiment of the concept a simple self-standing block constitutes an appropriate base 54. This base is provided with a pair of upstanding L-shaped brackets 56. The short portion of the bracket 58 is mounted atop the base or block and screwed or otherwise fastened in place as at 60. The upstanding longer limbs 62 are disposed in spaced-apart parallelism and serve to accommodate the depending legs or arms 64 on an inverted U-shaped adapter or yoke 66. The bottom wall 14 of the box is mounted adjustably atop the bight portion 68 of the yoke. The central bottom Wall 14 is provided with radial or star-like indentations 70 registering with correspondingindentations 72 and providing an adjustable interlocking joint with the detents engaged and maintained by a spring-loaded nut and bolt 74. This construction provides adjustable mounting for the box on the yoke and allows the box to be turned in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis so that it can be positioned and held in the manner desired by the user. The box can also be tilted back and forth in conjunction with the yoke 66 and here again cooperating interlocking or clutch-like detents 76 (FIG. 2) on the brackets and legs 64 are provided and assembled by bolt and nut means denoted generally at 78. The bolt and nut means is spring-loaded to achieve the desired step-by-step adjustment. This means of adjustment is exemplary and accordingly not limiting except and insofar as the twoway adjustment feature is concerned. For example, the adjustable support means just described indetail gives way to a simpler and non-adjustable concept illustrated in FIG. 6 and the'invention is to be construed accordingly.

With reference now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 it will be evident that a single elongated panel 80 provides the desired base. This is a common base for the battery or row of holders or boxes illustrated in FIG. 6. In this arrangement the boxes are positioned in row alignmentand aresimply'bolted directly atop the base as denoted at 82 in FIG. 8. Each box, as previously mentioned, is the same in construction as the already describedbox 12. It followsthat the same reference nu- *merals are here employed to designate like parts throughout FIGS. 6 to 9, inclusive.

The boxes can be numerically or otherwise sequentially designated or provided with appropriate legends whereby to promote organized usage thereof in keeping with the needs of the user.

Where a box is empty and it is desired to insert receipted bills or cards for systematic storage it will be evident that by simply catching hold of the trip or trigger 34 and exerting pressure downwardly and rearwardly the upper camtheir novel arrangement and relationship, the mode of use and features and advantages. Accordingly, a more extended description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A holder comprising, in combination, a portable horizontal base, a pair of opposed brackets fixed in spaced parallelism atop said base, an inverted U-shaped adapter embodying a horizontal bight portion and depending legs, said legs being hingedly and adjustably joined to their respective brackets and permitting the adapter to be swung toward and from theuser and fixed in a given position relative to the base and brackets, and a hollow box-like article storing holder having a bottom wall seated upon and adjustably and turnably connected to said bight portion, said holder having a pivotally mounted spring-loaded retainer finger oriented for article clamping relationship with the hollow portion of said holder.

2. A holder comprising, in combination, a portable horizontal base, a pair of opposed brackets fixed in spaced parallelism atop said base, an inverted U-shaped adapter embodying a horizontal bight portion and depending legs, said legs'being hingedly and adjustably joined to their respective brackets and permitting the adapter to be swung toward and from the user and fixed in a given position relative to the base and brackets, and a hollow box-like article storing holder having a bottom wall seated upon and adjustably and turnably connected to said bight portion, a lever, said lever being relatively narrow and having a fingergrip at its lower end proximal to but above the top of said horizontal base, also having a free u per end portion projecting into the storing space of said holder, said lever being spring-loaded and providing an article clamping finger, said upper end portion being bent upon itself and providing a spiral-like terminal located in the hollow portion of said'holder and being adapted to abut and retain the stored articles in stacked relationship in said hollow portion in an orderly and accessible 3. In combination, a horizontal base, a hollow holder supported atop said base, said holder having an open top and open front and defining and providing a box-like receptacle for insertable and removable receipts, receipted 'bill stubs and analogous items, said receptacle embodying and side walls, the upper edge thereof being provided with a pair of outstanding lever-mounting ears, a lever, said lever being relatively narrow'comparable to the space between the side walls and of a height less than the height of the back and side walls and having a fingergrip at its lower end proximal to but above the plane of said base,

a spiral-like terminal at its upper end and lateral attachlng ears on a median portion above the position of said .fingergrip, said ears being pivotally attached to said lever mounting ears by a pivot pin passing through and joining thev respective ears, a coil spring encircling the pivot pin between the respective ears and cooperating therewith and said front wall and adjacent lever portion and spring biasing'said spiral-like terminal toward said back wall, and

a hollow box-like small article storing receptacle embodying a.horizontal bottom wall seated and adjustably and turnably mounted on and connected to said bight portion, also embodying a vertical back wall with a finger-clearing notch at its upper end, vertical side walls, said back wall and side walls being of equal vertical height and a vertical front wall, said front wall being short relative to the height of said back and side walls, the upper edge of said front Wall being disposed in a plane below the plane of the bottom of said notch, said upper edge having an upstanding extension midway between and spaced from the respective side walls and provided with a pair of outstand ing lever-mounting ears, a lever, said lever being relatively narrow comparable with the space between said side walls and being of a height less than the height of the back wall and side walls, said lever having an integral outstanding fingergrip at its lower end proximal to but above the plane of said base, said lever also having a cam-like terminal at its upper end and lateral attaching ears above said fingergrip, said attaching ears being pivotally attached to said lever mounting ears by a pivot pin passing through and joining the respective ears, and a coil spring encircling the pivot pin between the respective ears and cooperating therewith and said front wall and adjacent lever portion and spring biasing said cam-like terminal toward said back wall, and said terminal terminating in a plane below the bottom of said notch and also below the plane of the upper edges of the back and side walls.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 743,547 11/03 Nix 211-51 871,089 11/07 Hotaling et a1 211-51 966,333 8/10 Hemrning 21151 1,277,987 9/18 Miller 211--51 1,841,806 1/32 Harris 40-130 2,165,606 7/39 Baternan 21151 2,533,475 12/50 Kootner 248225 3,056,412 10/62 Wolfe 131--112 FOREIGN PATENTS 4,990 of 2/13 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PORTABLE HORIZONTAL BASE, A PAIR OF OPPOSED BRACKETS FIXED IN SPACED PARALLELISM ATOP SAID BASE, AN INVERTED U-SHAPED ADATPER, EMBODYING A HORIZONTAL BIGHT PORTION AND DEPENDING LEGS, SAID LEGS BEING HIGEDLY AND ADJUSTABLY JOINED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE BRACKETS AND PERMITTING THE ADAPTER TO BE SWUNG TOWARD AND FROM THE USER AND FIXED IN A GIVEN POSITION RELATIVE TO THE BASE AND BRACKETS, AND A HOLLOW BOX-LIKE ARTICLE STORING HOLDER HAVING A BOTTOM WALL SEATED UPON AND ADJUSTABLY AND TURNABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BIGHT PORTION, SAID HOLDER HAVING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SPRING-LOADED RETAINER FINGER ORIENTED FOR ARTICLE CLAMPING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID HOLDER. 